Pear tree

ABSTRACT

A novel pear variety originating as a sport of Regal Red Comice, characterized by its solid red fruit color, Comice shape and smaller tree habit.

This invention relates to a new and unique variety of pear tree. Thepear tree originated as a sport of the variety referred to as Regal RedComice, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,527, issued June 1, 1965.

The present discovery originated as a sport thrown by a Regal Red Comicepear tree in a cultivated orchard on property owned by the inventorCharles Lyle Kinney. The property is located on Pioneer Road about oneand one-half miles southwest of the city of Phoenix, Jackson County, inthe State of Ore.

The parent variety, Regal Red Comice which is the subject of U.S. PlantPat. No. 2,527, is characterized by thick trunks and limbs having areddish-brown bark. It is a tree of vigorous growth, very upright,having pinkish-white blossoms. The ripe fruit of the parent variety hasan overall reddish skin having a slight purplish tint and, as has becomemore prevalent through the years, having yellow stripes running fromcalyx to stem. The parent variety also has pronounced elongate shape.

The new variety is not as vigorous as the parent, being more a spurtype. It is a smaller tree and grows more slowly. The fruit is a solidred throughout the growing season and has no purplish tint. Thecoloration of the new variety generally is unaffected by the degree ofexposure of the fruit to the sun.

The new variety has no yellow stripes as does the parent, Regal RedComice. It is shaped like the usual Comice variety, rather than havingthe elongate shape of the parent Regal Red Comice variety. The newvariety fruit has a very slight yellowish undercoat when ripe, whereasthe Regal Red Comice parent has a mottled greenish-yellow undercoat whenripe.

The ripening time of the new variety is from 6 to 8 days later than theparent variety.

Asexual reproduction was performed by the inventor by grafting andbudding. The grafting and budding illustrated that the distinctivecharacteristics mentioned herein were established and transmittedthrough succeeding propagations.

Accompanying this specification are two color photographs.

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing the new pear on the tree and

FIG. 2 shows a group of the new pears.

There follows a detailed description of the new variety of pear tree,such description being based upon observations of pear specimens grownupon the inventor's property described above. The color terminology isin accordance with the "Munsell Book of Color" (abridged edition),1929-1942.

Tree: Slow growth, hardy, non-vigorous, regular bearing.

Trunk.--Stocky and smooth.

Branches.--Brown, substantially smooth, medium thickness.

Leaves.--Substantially identical to parent variety, Regal Red Comice;medium length, width and size, ovate, taper-pointed, dark green andsmooth. Margins are finely serrated with the petiole being medium lengthand thickness.

Flowers.--Substantially identical to the parent variety, Regal RedComice; date of bloom -- 4 to 15 days approximately, late, medium insize, light red to pink or white when mature, and fertile.

Fruit: Similar in shape to standard Comice variety, large substantiallyuniform shape with sides substantially equal; roundish shape; date ofripening -- approximately September 22. Hangs well.

Skin.--Thick; smooth; glossy.

Flesh.--White; fine, tender, juicy, sweet.

Stem.--Short and thick.

Core.--Medium; axile.

Calyx.--Small and open.

Basin.--Deep, wide, symmetrical and smooth.

Calyx Tube.--Medium length and conical.

Keeping Quality.--Good to January 15.

Color.--Substantially solid red throughout the growing season,brightening and lighter when ripe, but having little or no purplishtint, and having a very slight yellowish undercoat when ripe. The redcolor is between red hue 5.0 R, value 4, chroma 8-10 and red hue 5.0 R,value 3, chroma 8-10 in the "Munsell Book of Color" referred to above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of pear tree,substantially as shown and described herein, distinguished principallyfrom its parent, the Regal Red Comice, by being a spur-type tree bearingfruit, having a substantially solid red color throughout the growingseason, with little or no purplish tint and having very slight yellowishundercoat when ripe, having substantially thicker and tougher skin, andhaving a rounded shape more nearly similar to the standard Doyenne DuComice.